First detection of OXA-48-producing Enterobacter cloacae isolate from currency coins in Algeria

Bendjama, Esma; Loucif, Lotfi; Chelaghma, Widad; Attal, Chahrazed; Bellakh, Fatma Zohra; Benaldjia, Randa; Kahlat, Imène; Meddour, Amna; Rolain, Jean-Marc

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to screen for the presence of β-lactamases-producing Gram negative bacteria isolates from Algerian currency collected from food vendors in Batna city, Algeria. METHODS: During two periods, May 2018 and from March to April 2019, a total of 408 coins and notes currency of different denominations of Algerian Dinar were randomly recovered from some food vendors. Samples were subjected to selective isolation of extended spectrum cephalosporins and carbapenem resistant Gram negative bacteria. The bacterial species identification was performed using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption–Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the disk-diffusion method. Carbapenemases and extended-spectrum β-lactamases genes were searched for by Real-time PCR, Standard PCR and sequencing. The clonality relationships of carbapenemase producing isolates were investigated by multilocus sequence typing. The transferability of the detected carbapenemase encoding gene was verified by conjugation experiments. RESULTS: A total of twelve cefotaxime and/or carbapenem-resistant strains were isolated in this study and identified as E. cloacae, Raoultella ornithinolytica, Citrobacter freundii, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, Pseudomonas libanensis and Pseudomonas stutzeri. The bla(OXA-48) gene was detected in only one E. cloacae strain belonging to the ST108, while the two Raoultella ornithinolytica isolates harboured the bla(CTX-M-27) gene and one E. coli strain carried the bla(CTX-M-14) gene. The detected bla(OXA-48) gene was transferable by conjugation. CONCLUSION: In this study, we report for the first time, the detection of OXA-48-producing Enterobacter cloacae isolate from money. Thus, it calls for consciousness development on the potential risks associated with poor handling of currency.